In its Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories for the week of 13- 19 Sep. 2012, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) found that Israeli forces extra-judicially executed two members of the Palestinian resistance and wounded a third one in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

Soldiers abduct Palestinian in the West Bank (PCHR photo)

In addition, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful protest organized by Palestinian civilians in the West Bank. A Palestinian child and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded. Dozens of protesters suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip:

Israeli forces conducted three incursions into the Gaza Strip. In addition, Israeli gunboats fired at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip.

In the Gaza Strip, on 19 September 2012, Israeli forces extra-judicially executed two members of the Palestinian resistance and wounded a third one in Rafah. An Israeli warplane fired a missile at the vehicle in which the three members were traveling. Israeli forces admitted responsibility for the attack and claimed that the targeted persons are members of “Al-Aqsa Guards Group,” which is close to Hamas.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 22:30 on 19 September, an Israeli warplane fired a missile at a vehicle (a White Toyota Hilux) that was traveling near Abu Taha fuel station in al-Salam neighborhood in the south of Rafah. Three members of “Al-Aqsa Guards Group,” which is close to Hamas, who work in the Ministry of Interior and National Security of the Gaza government, were traveling in the vehicle. The missile hit the car directly. As a result, two members of the group were instantly killed: Anees Mohammed Abu al-‘Einain, 36; and Ashraf Mahmoud Saleh, 33, both from Rafah. The third one was seriously wounded (PCHR keeps his name). According to Israeli media sources, the Israeli military admitted responsibility for the attack. They reported that an Israeli military source stated that the targeted persons are members of “Al-Aqsa Guards Group,” which is close to Hamas and active in Gaza. The source further claimed that the group “receives financial support from the Minister of Interior in Gaza government, Fathi Hammad.” According to the same sources, one of the targeted persons, Anees Abu al-‘Einain, “was planning for an attack inside Israel, and that he was involved in several attacks against Israelis, smuggling explosives from Gaza to Israel through Egypt and attempting to carry out terrorist attacks in several areas, including the West Bank and Jerusalem.” The source further claimed that Saleh, a former fighter with the Popular Resistance Committees had been abducted and he “confessed that he had transported two terrorists to Egypt to carry out a suicide attack,” and that “he was involved in smuggling weapons to Sinai from Gaza.”

The Israeli military had already admitted in an official statement its responsibility for the attack, and indicated that was carried out in coordination with the Israeli General Security Service (Shabak). It further stated that it “will not be tolerant towards any attempt to harm citizens of the State of Israel, and will continue to act firmly against any attempts to launch terrorist attacks against Israel.” The Israeli military further held Hamas responsible for any attempts to launch attacks from the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces continued to fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the Gaza Strip. On 17 September 2012, Israeli gunboats opened fire at Palestinian fishing boats in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. No casualties were reported.

During the reporting period, Israeli forces positioned at the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel abducted a Palestinian civilian when he attempted to cross the border to find a job in Israel.

Israel has continued to impose a total closure and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world.

Israeli attacks in the West Bank:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces conducted at least 23 military incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank. During these incursions, Israeli forces abducted 7 Palestinians, including a university professor. During house raids, a Palestinian child was injured, and Israeli forces harassed Palestinian civilians.

A Palestinian child was wounded during an Israeli incursion into al-Fawar refugee camp, south of Hebron.

Israeli forces abducted at least 3 Palestinian children at military checkpoints in the West Bank.

Israeli settlement activities:

Israeli forces have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have continued to attack Palestinian civilians and property.

On 13 September 2012, three Palestinian civilians were admitted into Rafidya Hospital in Nablus, as they were injured by fragments of glass from the window of a car they had rented. Israeli settlers threw stones at the car while the three civilians were traveling on Nablus-Ramallah road near “Shilo” settlement. The car was also heavily damaged.

On the same day, the Israeli Central Court in occupied Jerusalem ordered handing over al-Rajabi building in the center of Hebron to Israeli settlers. The settlers had been evacuated from the building in 2008 by an order issued by the same court.

On 14 September 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Ma’oun” settlement attacked Khirbat al-Hamra area, south of Hebron, and uprooted at least 15 olive trees.

On the same day, at least 200 Israeli settlers from “Beit Hagai” settlement to the east of Dura village, south of Hebron, stormed Wad Abu al-Qamra area near the settlement. They remained in the area until approximately 09:30.

On 15 September 2012, a number of Israeli settlers from “Yish Kodesh” settlement outpost in the southeast of Qasra village, southeast of Nablus, attacked a Palestinian family while working on their land. As a result, a member of the family was seriously injured as he was attacked by an Israeli settler using a sharp tool.

On the same day, Israeli forces positioned in al-Mussafer area to the southeast of Yatta village, south of Hebron, prevented Palestinian farmers and international solidarity activists from reaching the area to work on agricultural land, claiming that it was a closed military zone. Israeli forces and Israeli settlers attempt to seize this land in order to expand the nearby “Ma’oun” settlement, which stands on Palestinian land.

On 16 September 2012, Israeli forces issued a notice to ‘Abdullah Mohammed Ghunaim, 75, from al-Khader village south of Bethlehem, ordering him to evacuate his land and destroy what he has planted within 15 days on his own expense. The land is located near Israeli settlements.

On 17 September 2012, 6 Israeli settlers from “Eitamar” settlement, which stands on the lands of ‘Aqraba village, southeast of Nablus, attacked 3 Palestinian civilians when they were on their way back to the village from their land in Karama area, nearly 700 meters away from the village. As a result, the three civilians sustained bruises throughout their bodies.

On 19 September 2012, Israeli forces delivered two notices to Sabri Rashad Manasra and Jom’a Yousef ‘Assaf, confiscating 75 dunums[1] of their agricultural lands at the entrance of Wadi Foukin village, west of Bethlehem. The notices were accompanied by maps and a decision to replant the lands.

On the same day, a number of Israeli settlers from “Abraham Avino” settlement outpost in the center of Hebron raided a house belonging to Nidal al-‘Owaiwi, 42, in the old town. They beat his daughter and his son. They also broke windows and damaged water tanks in house. Israeli soldiers were present in the area, but did not intervene to stop this attack.

Israeli attacks on non-violent demonstrations:

During the reporting period, Israeli forces used force to disperse peaceful demonstrations organized in protest of the construction of the annexation wall, settlement activities and other Israeli practices in the West Bank. As a result, a Palestinian child and an Israeli human rights defender were wounded, and dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Following the Friday Prayer on 14 September 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Bil'ein village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They called through megaphones on Israeli settlers in “Mitityahu” settlement to leave Palestinian land. Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, Dr. Rubeh, 39, and Israeli human rights defender, was hit by a tear gas canister to the head, and a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 September 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in Ne’lin village, west of Ramallah, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The demonstrators moved towards areas of the annexation wall. Immediately, Israeli soldiers stationed in the area fired rubber-coated metal bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the demonstrators. As a result, some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Also following the Friday Prayer on 14 August 2012, dozens of Palestinian civilians and Israeli and international human rights defenders gathered in the center of Nabi Saleh village, northwest of Ramallah, to start the weekly peaceful protest against the construction of the annexation wall and settlement activities. The protesters walked towards the gate erected by Israeli forces near the entrance of the village and leading to Palestinian lands that Israeli settlers from the nearby "Halmish" settlement are trying to seize. Israeli soldiers who had been extensively deployed in the area and near all the entrances of the village since the morning, began to confront the protesters who wanted to walk towards the affected lands. Israeli soldiers fired live and rubber-coated bullets, sound bombs and tear gas canisters at the protesters. As a result, a 16-year-old child was wounded by a rubber-coated metal bullet to the left hand, and some demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

At approximately 13:15 on Friday, 14 August 2012, Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of Kufor Qaddoum village, northeast of Qalqilya, in protest to the continued closure of the eastern entrance of the village since the beginning of the al-Aqsa Intifada. Once they moved towards the entrance, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. A number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation. Israeli forces also abducted 3 brothers from the Ali family, including a child, and two Israeli human rights defenders, but released them at 17:00 on the following day.

Also on Friday afternoon, Palestinian civilians and international human rights defenders organized a peaceful demonstration in the center of al-Ma’sara village, south of Bethlehem, in protest to the construction of the annexation wall. They moved towards the entrance of the village. Immediately, Israeli forces fired rubber-coated metal bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs at them. Dozens of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.

Recommendations to the international community:

Due to the number and severity of Israeli human rights violations this week, the PCHR made several recommendations to the international community. Among these were a recommendation that the European Union activate Article 2 of the Euro-Israel Association Agreement, which provides that Israel must respect human rights as a precondition for economic cooperation between the EU states and Israel. PCHR further calls upon the EU states to prohibit import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.